Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38086579›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2023

Exploring challenges and recommendations for verbal autopsy implementation in low-/middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of Iringa Region-Tanzania.

Mahadia Tunga, Juma Hemed Lungo, James Chambua, Ruthbetha Kateule, Isaac Lyatuu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mahadia TungaComputer Science and Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam College of Engineering and Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania mahadiatunga@udsm.ac.tz.ORCID 0000-0003-2496-3373
Juma Hemed LungoComputer Science and Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam College of Engineering and Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
James ChambuaComputer Science and Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam College of Engineering and Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ruthbetha KateuleComputer Science and Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam College of Engineering and Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Isaac LyatuuIfakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVerbal autopsy (VA) plays a vital role in providing cause-of-death information in places where such information is not available. Many low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) including Tanzania are still struggling to yield quality and adequate cause-of-death data for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS).

objectiveTo highlight challenges and recommendations for VA implementation to support LMICs yield quality and adequate mortality statistics for informed decisions on healthcare interventions.

designCross-sectional study. STUDY

settingIringa region in Tanzania.

participants41 people including 33 community health workers, 1 VA national coordinator, 5 national task force members, 1 VA regional coordinator and 1 member of the VA data management team.

resultsThe perceived challenges of key informants include a weak death notification system, lengthy VA questionnaire, poor data quality and inconsistent responses, lack of clarity in the inclusion criteria, poor commitment to roles and responsibilities, poor coordination, poor financial mechanism and no or delayed feedback to VA implementers. Based on these findings, we recommend the following strategies for effective adaptation and use of VAs: (1) reinforce or implement legislative procedures towards the legal requirement for death notification. (2) Engage key stakeholders in the overall implementation of VAs. (3) Build capacity for data collection, monitoring, processing and use of VA data. (4) Improve the VA questionnaire and quality control mechanism for optimal use in data collection. (5) Create sustainable financing mechanisms and institutionalisation of VA implementation. (6) Integrating VA Implementation in CRVS.

conclusionEffective VA implementation demands through planning, stakeholder engagement, upskilling of local experts and fair compensation for interviewers. Such coordinated endeavours will overcome systemic, technical and behavioural challenges hindering VA's successful implementation.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesAutopsyCause of DeathCross-Sectional StudiesHumansSurveys and QuestionnairesTanzaniahealth informaticsinformation technologypublic health

Identifiers

PMID38086579
PMCPMC10729186

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.